Synthesis of nanocrystalline Li<SUB>2</SUB>-Al<SUB>3</SUB>Ti and Al<SUB>3</SUB>Zr by mechanical alloying

The paper reports the synthesis of nanocrystalline Li2-Al3Ti and Al3Zr by mechanical alloying of elemental blends. The influence of Cu and Cr in stabilizing the Li2-Al3Ti has been studied. Cu appears to be better than Cr in stabilizing Li2-Al3Ti in the milled condition. However, the results of annealing in the temperature range of 823-1073K indicate that the Li2-Al3Ti phase is stable up to higher temperature in case of Cr containing alloy in comparison to that containing Cu. In the as milled Li2-Al3Ti sample, SUBerlattice reflections were not observed and even annealing up to 1273K the alloy does not show them, which has been attributed to the nanocrystalline nature of the phase and the low relative intensity of SUBerlattice peaks of Li2-Al3Ti phase even in the fully ordered structure. In contrast, nanocrystalline Li2-Al3Zr has been easily synthesised directly by mechanical alloying from elemental blends